Mary Butler: "I Received Christ in the Shower..."

I grew up going to a Lutheran Church, and never did anything that was really wrong. I never killed anyone, and to me, that’s the worst sin anyone can do. I did lie some, but then, who doesn’t do that? I always thought that I was going to Heaven when I died, because that was what I had been told. I knew about Jesus, but I didn’t know Him…as my own personal Savior. As far as I can remember, no one had ever told me the difference of knowing about Christ and knowing Him personally.

I was in my late 30’s when I received Christ. At that time, I was married and had children. I had taken a job to help with bills after the children were in school and became friends with 2 ladies who talked to me about Jesus. We would go down the street to a book store during our lunch breaks and look at the books. I really like to read all kinds of stories. One day I found a book written by Billy Graham and the name of it intrigued me, so I bought it. We had seen this man on television at different times, and listened to him, to the beautiful music, and to his sermons. The things he said never really sunk in, but when I read his book, I understood, and I prayed the prayer in the back to receive Christ and I truly received Him. I was taking a shower when I asked Him to be my Savior, and I got clean on the inside the same time I was getting clean on the outside.

After I received Christ, I was very excited to tell other people about what had happened to me. Sometimes I was too excited and turned people off. Then I would be sad that some didn’t want to hear what I wanted to tell them, and I would become quiet. I found out that not everyone wants to know Christ or isn’t ready to know Him yet. So I just say a little bit to people to see if they are interested, and follow my heart. I have become very interested in reading my Bible…oh, yes, I had one before---I just didn’t look at it much. I like to hear good teaching of God’s Word, and listen to good Christian music. I talk to God in prayer everyday, and I pray for other people and their needs. I love the Lord.

I like the Scripture verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says: “Therefore, if any person is engrafted in Christ…he is a new creature altogether…a new creation. The old, previous condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” And then I make this Scripture my own by saying, “I am a new creature in every way. The old things, my old ways of living, are no more. Everything about me has changed!”